Sotheby’s From Earth To Fire auction held on November 1, 2017, in London closed with global sales totaling at £ 1,400,300. The top selling lot of the auction was a banded Agate hardstone salt and cover.The sale is the fourth edition of ‘From Earth To Fire’ and featured fine European Ceramics, Silver, and Objects of Vertu. With a lot that consisted of 171 objects, the estimates ranged from £ 1,000 up to £ 70,000. The highlights included collections comprising European Silver, Sèvres porcelain, and ivories. The auction’s top-selling item was an early 16th century banded agate hardstone salt and cover with silver-gilt mounts from the provenance of French Banker Baron Guy de Rothchild (1909-2007). The estimate for this lot were £ 20,000 —£ 30,000 and was sold for £ 162,500. A Hermann Böhm, late 19th-century Viennese pair of lapis lazuli veneered towers with silver and enamel mounts followed suit and was sold for £ 68,750. Other sale highlights include a Christoph Ritter I, German silver-gilt fruit-shaped cup and cover dating back to the 1569-76, Nuremberg (£ 60,000), a German-made parcel-gilt silver standing salt from circa 1600 (£ 50,000), and a rock crystal, enamel and silver winged dragon crafted by Hermann Ratzersdorfer from Vienna in late 19th century (£47,500) among others.The Agate salt and cover have similar designs that were part of the Danish Royal Collection at Rosenborg Castle and also at the Louvre Museum. The latter also entered the collection of King Louis XIV in the late 17th century. The former was first recorded in 1694 as part of the Gottorp treasury. The Louvre Agate design has a separate gold foot, this is a distinguishing design element since the Modena salt sold in the auction have faceted stone bases with precious metal mounts.For details, visit: http://www.sothebys.com/en.htmlClick on the slideshow for a sneak peek at the lots.
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